y2020m01b5635 20200129094500 assa nadine@assaf.org.za assa South African Journal of Science S. Afr. J. Sci 1996-7489 01292020 116 1/2 Clare Rodseth Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8021-5041 Philippa Notten The Green House, Cape Town, South Africa Harro von von Blottniz Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7718-9580 A major limitation to improved waste management in South Africa lies in the paucity of reliable waste data and the exclusion of the contribution of the informal sector from reporting. Due to the disparity in the provision of formal waste management services across households in South Africa, omission of the quantified contribution of informal management practices leads to an inaccurate representation of waste management practices in existing waste data repositories. Given the potentially adverse social and environmental consequences of unregulated waste management practices, a lack of representation thereof has the potential to underestimate impacts. As of 2015, 31% of households are reported as lacking a basic refuse removal service; however, this number cannot necessarily be applied directly to waste quantities, given the regional and socio-economic differences that occur in per capita waste generation rates. The total quantity of domestic waste in South Africa and fraction disposed informally are estimated here, taking into account differences in waste generation rates based on income and settlement type. The characterisation and quantification of unregulated waste streams is beneficial in assessing the magnitude of the problem and, where necessary, identifying mitigation action. The results obtained show that 29% (3.67 million tonnes per annum) of domestic waste generated is not collected or treated via formal management options. Of this waste, the majority (85%) is generated in rural areas. The most common waste management option for unserviced households is a private dump. An estimated 94% of households in unserviced rural areas make use of private dumps, while in unserviced urban and metro areas this decreases to 74% and 71% of households, respectively. Illegal dumping is the next most common waste management option for unserviced areas. The proportion of household waste disposed of via illegal dumping ranges from an estimated 5% for unserviced rural households to 27% in metro areas with the balance made up by ‘other’ disposal/treatment options. 01292020 1 10.17159/sajs.2016/crossmark sajs.co.za false 2018-11-08 2019-10-18 2020-01-29 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ 10.17159/sajs.2020/5635 20200129094500 https://www.sajs.co.za/article/view/5635 https://www.sajs.co.za/article/view/5635/9693 https://www.sajs.co.za/article/view/5635/9693 https://www.sajs.co.za/article/view/5635/9693 https://www.sajs.co.za/article/view/5635/9693 https://www.sajs.co.za/article/view/5635/9693 https://www.sajs.co.za/article/view/5635/9693 https://www.sajs.co.za/article/view/5635/9693